CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Last-minute preparations are underway for the upcoming Prince Edward Island Marathon weekend. We cannot wait to play host to your special race day, the day you have been training for, talking about, making several sacrifices for months.
Last-minute doubts might be taking over your mind as it becomes not months or weeks away from lining up at the start line, but just days away. Welcome these thoughts if they come up and take comfort in reviewing your training and just how much you have put into this impending race day.
If you feel your goals might be completely too far reaching, it might be wise to revisit your goals and make a more reasonable goal. Try not to underestimate the power of the race day, running alongside friends and strangers alike, perhaps a pace bunny and the power of adrenaline that you will likely have to dial back in the early stages of the race.
Many first-time racers will be out there on Sunday. My advice for first-time racers is to enjoy the day and to focus on getting to the finish line more than the time on the clock when you cross. Soak the entire experience in and save a little energy and kick for the last quarter of the race distance. Once you have crossed the finish line once and run the entire distance (it is common for first-time racers to have their race distance as the longest race they have ever completed) you can set yourself some time and performance goals in subsequent races.
For those that have been there and done all of that already in other races, may be running for a PB – a personal best time – or for a BQ – Boston qualifier time. These are normal stretch goals that require everything to come together on race day. How you feel, how the weather is, which direction the wind is blowing, how your nutrition has been, how rested you are, etc.
Most importantly to achieve these personal and stretch goals, it requires visualization and a very positive attitude to attack these goals. It requires you believing in your training and in yourself and executing things as you had visualized on race day.
We see these barriers being broke through in the media for elite athletes. Last week, Eliud Kipchoge ran the marathon distance faster than any other recorded runner at 1:59:40, a day later, Brigid Kosgei broke the female marathon record at 2:14:04. And while it is easy to say these massive breakthroughs are only available for the elites, the very same can work for anyone lining up on race day for your own personal stretch goals.
Be prepared. Believe it. See it. Feel it. Do it.
We would like to wish everyone lacing up this weekend all the best out there. Our fabulous race support volunteers will be out there to cheer you along.
Enjoy your victory lap to a spring and summer's worth of training.
Cheryl Paynter is a longtime P.E.I. Marathon board member. She will be contributing weekly columns leading into this year's marathon weekend, which runs Oct. 18-20.
Related links:
Previous columns for the P.E.I. Marathon:
Oct. 2: A day of fun and fitness
Oct. 8: Kids Fox Trot is a signature event for marathon weekend
